I don't know about genetic disorder, but it's defiantly a mental illness. Like all phobias it is characterized by an unconditional fear or hatred of something without any logical reason for feeling that way.

I've known a few Homophobes in my life and most of them it was purely a fear of the unknown, when they got to know some Gay people they realised they were just normal people and it was purely unfounded. I think with a bit of education Homophobia and Racism can be overcome in most people

Homophobic individuals do not chose to be homophobic.

Yes, they do. Even if they don't like to see gay acts (and a great part of heterosexuals is that way), they don't need to isolate/spank/kill homosexuals. Just ignore it. Homosexuals don't do anything to bother other people. They are just like heterosexuals, the only difference is their emotional and sexual desires.

They are born that way and cannot change anymore than a gay man can change and become heterosexual.

Yes, they can. Repeating what I've said before, you don't have to support homosexuality or like it. You just have to respect it. And if a person doesn't like to see heterosexual acts? Public is public.

Once outted, homophobes face ridicule and are bullied.

In some other dimension, maybe. Unfortunately, most population is still homophobic. So, no, homophobes don't suffer.

Homophobic individuals are people too. They just want to be accepted by society.

HA, good joke. They are people, of course. Repeating again: nobody is forced to like homosexuals. Just respect them. I don't like to see/hear electioneering. But I have to, and there's nothing I can do about it. And homophobes don't want to be "accepted by society". They just want that homosexuals don't be accepted by it.

Homophobia is NOT a choice, it is a genetic disorder

Homophobia is purely psychological. It's not biological. If there is a homophobic with an open mind, just a few arguments will change his/her mind. Most, sadly, don't want to listen and are convinced that homosexuality is wrong. You can show countless arguments and evidences, and they just ignore. It's frustrating.

To say that all phobias come from your genes is a false statement... So is saying that just one phobia is as well. Evidence has been submitted that yes, in fact phobias can be common within families, for example twins. If one identical twin is homophobic it is more likely that his or her twin would be homophobic as well rather than if two un related people were to be homophobic. However, we also have to consider the social factors that come into play with phobias. Especially in this day and age, gay rights, and issues such as equal marriage is a major staple in today's politics and media. Depending on where you live, the type of community, how your school or workplace handles homosexuality, someone may be more prone to be homophobic rather than others. This could be someone who has a genetic predisposition to be homophobic, however it does NOT mean that the social factors and the surrounding environment isn't a large if not the largest part of this phobia. In the sixties Martin Luther King Jr. hoped to see a day where both black and white children would be able to enjoy the same privileges and enjoy life together harmoniously, today there are many people who wish the same for homophobes and homosexuals in America. As a nation we have learned to integrate and put aside our prejudices against African-Americans, whose to say we can't do it for gays?

Homophobia is a relatively new "phobia". Consider the ancient Greeks. Man on man sexual affairs were common, especially in the military. It wasn't looked upon as anything taboo because the idea that homosexuality was wrong didn't yet exist. This proves that homophobia is a learned fear, not something genetically ingrained in us.

You don't CHOOSE to bey gay.

You don't CHOOSE to support gays.

No, it's not a genetic disorder. It's deep-ceded paranoia. The truth is that everyone has some gay in them. A lot of people don't know how to deal with it, because we live in a repressed society. So, they try to cover it up with a bunch of bogus machismo and hate.